The Best Flowers For Spring

After a long, cold winter, you are probably anxious for the first signs of spring. Springtime automatically brings thoughts of flowers. Choosing the best flowers for spring can be difficult and it is often confusing. Perhaps the most effective way to ensure spring flowers that bloom each year is to plant bulbs in the fall to mid-winter. There are of course flowering plants that you can purchase from your local nursery, but you will want to make sure any chance of freezing weather has passed before planting and in many areas of the country, spring does not arrive until late in the season and by that time you will want to plants flowers in anticipation of summer. You always have the option of purchasing bulbs that have been grown in pots over the winter and are in stock in most garden centers beginning in the late winter months. Here are a few choices of flowering plants that are suitable to plant now and will produce early spring flower:

Winter Aconite, or Eranthis hyemalis, will give you yellow flowers approximately three inches in height and resemble common buttercups. These particular bulbs may begin to flower as early as January if you live in a warm area and you will get the best results if you plant them in masses as they grow low to the ground.

Glory Of The Snow, or Chionodoxa luciliare, produce flowers that are bright blue with a white center. The plants will grow between six and ten inches tall, making this particular plant very handy for walkways, borders, and rock gardens. You may also be able to find white/pink varieties depending on the area in which you live

Spring Snowflake, or leucojum vernum, give you bell-shaped flowers that droop from the green part of the plant. These plants will be six to twelve inches in height and are white in color with small green spots on the ends of the petals. You will get the best results if you plant them in clumps and you can expect to see blooms in late February to early March. As with any other springtime bulb, they are best planted in the fall but you can plant in the mid to late winter if you purchase potted bulbs that have already begun the growing cycle.

Netted Iris, or iris reticulate, are wonderfully scented and are most commonly purple in color, although you can also find light blue and white irises in many areas. Irises are one of the earliest blooming plants and you can expect a beautiful display of flowers in early March. As with any other type of bulb, after several growing seasons you will have to thin the bulbs from time to time, as they tend to reproduce rapidly and could actually begin to stunt the growth of the plants due to over-crowding


By: Jennifer Houck

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How To Decorate Your Garden With Blue Flowers

When decorating your garden with blue flowers, it can add a rich splash of color to your garden. Plant them in a cluster of all blue or mix them in with other flowers for a rainbow of color.

The important thing when planting flowers is to follow the instructions on the tag for the plant. Always buy plants that will thrive in the conditions in which you intend to grow them. A plant that loves sun won't do well in a shady area and you will only be disappointed with the results.

You must be aware of the bloom time of the flowers when planning you garden. Planting perennials with different bloom times near each other will insure a garden that has blooms all season long. Remember also to plan for the height of the plants, putting the taller ones in the back.

Below is a list of favorite blue flowering plants that you might want to consider for your garden:

1. Ajuga, Bronze Beauty - This short bushy plant has spikes of blue flowers that grows quickly. Great as a ground cover or in raised beds. It blooms in spring and prefers a shady area.

2. Blue Sea Holly - This dramatic plant has a lavender blue cone like flower with long spiked petals. It grows to 30 and is a favorite for dried flower arrangements. Plant in full sun - blooms in mid to late summer.

3. Campanula, Blue Carpet - Bright blue to lilac colored flowers bloom for weeks in the middle of summer. This low growing perennial grows to 4 and prefers full sun with well drained soil.

4. Delphinium, Butterfly Blue - Bright blue delicate flowers adorn this plant that blooms in early to mid summer. It reaches 10 tall and prefers a sunny location with rich moist soil.

5. Hydrangea, Nikko Blue - Gigantic clumps of blue flowers adorn this shrub for most of the summer. In the fall, the flowers turn a golden color. This plant is a new variety that prefers rich soil but will grow in shade, partial sun or full sun.

6. Penstemon, Blue Buckle - This plant has tubular shaped blooms in blue to purple and flowers in mid summer to early fall. It grows to 15 and likes well drained soil with full or partial sun.

7. Polemonuim, Blue Pearl - A compact plant with deep sky blue flowers that grows to 10. It blooms in late spring to early summer. Plant in partial shade and in well drained soil.

8. Scabiosa, Butterfly Blue - A bushy perennial with lavender blue flowers that bloom from June to October. This plant likes full sun and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

9. Verbena, Babylon Blue - Blue purple flowers petals adorn this plant that blooms in early spring. Great for window boxes and planters.

10. Vinca - Medium blue flowers and glossy green leaves form a carpet that grows to about 6 tall and blooms in mid spring. This plant will grow in most soil conditions, in the shade or sun


By: Mary Williams

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Winter Flowers

Winter is that time of the year when the coziest thing you can think of doing is curling up near the fire with a hot mug of chocolate while staring outside the window at the cold bleak day. But winters also that time of the year when Valentines Day is just around the corner. What better way than to infuse warmth and color to your life by gifting your beloved some colorful and beautiful winter flowers? Contrary to popular belief, winter is not the time flowers wave good bye to everyone till the return next spring. There are many flowers that bloom primarily in winter, and can bring just the right amount of liveliness and romance to your chilly Valentines Day celebrations.

No Valentines Day is complete without some exquisite blooms to compliment that candle lit dinner, the sexy outfit and that romantic rendezvous. These winter flowers will not only create the right ambiance for your cozy interlude but will also lighten up your mood. Well, studies have shown that receiving flowers has an almost immediate positive effect on our moods. So let the candles burn in their heady perfume, clink those champagne glasses together, gaze deep into each others eyes, make a toast to your everlasting relationship and let the flowers perform the rest of the magic.

Now that the ambiance is set, the essential thing to do is to choose the right kind of flowers to compliment your private soir?e. Depending on the mood you are in, ranging between pure fun and frolic to romantic and intense, its easy to find flowers to the set the mood right and add that finishing touch to any occasion.

The first flower that comes to mind - especially when thinking of Valentines Day - is of course the infamous red rose. One of the great poets, Gertrude Stein immortalized the rose in her famous line a rose a rose a rose. Or we go back to the 15th century, Alfred Noyes stated that the Language of Roses originated in Persia. This language was particularly popular in the 19th century. They say that lovers could have entire conversations through roses. A rose symbolizes romance and all the emotions that come associated with it. When it comes to picking a rose, you can choose from reds to pinks to maroons. Other winter blooms also come in a wide variety of colors and types. You can pick up flowers like elegant lilies, amaryllis in reds and whites, tulips in reds, pinks, whites, bouvardias, exotic orchids, chrysanthemums in yellows, pinks, and reds, and hyacinths too.

Whether you are looking to paint that intense romantic evening with flowers or to add color to an elegant all white dinner engagement, winter blooms can help you perfect your theme for the evening. When you want to say those three important words to your lady love, or pop the age-old question of living happily ever after, why not begin by giving her some of these lovely winter flowers? Oh and dont forget the diamond ring!



By: Amy Nutt

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